Cole Irvin took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, but the Rangers rallied and held on for a 3-2 victory Friday in Arlington, Texas.
Things escalated quickly in the sixth after Eli White’s infield hit led to singles from Charlie Culberson — interrupted by Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit by a pitch — and Andy Ibanez, the latter scoring the Rangers’ first run and booting Irvin from the game without recording an out.
In relief, Sergio Romo gave up a go-ahead two-run single to Adolis Garcia on a hanging slider, but rung up back-to-back batters and a pop out to strand the bases loaded in the sixth, but the Rangers escaped with a 3-2 lead.
In the fourth, Elvis Andrus singled, Matt Olson hit a double with a 115-mph exit velocity and Jed Lowrie drew a walk. Sean Murphy’s groundout scored Andrus from third for the A’s first run.
A's third baseman Matt Chapman, who is riding a 24-game on-base streak, turned a single up the middle into a hustle double to start the sixth. Chapman was called out at second, but deemed safe on replay — Lowrie made it pay with an RBI single. Lowrie has a .397 average with runners in scoring position, third best in the major leagues behind Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (.413) and San Diego’s Manny Machado (.409)
